R3 Safety & Rescue Ltd
"Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback after using the RC4000 for swiftwater and flood rescue boat operator tuition and for triathlon event cover. We partnered the boat with a Barrus prepared Mariner short shaft 30hp engine with stainless steel prop-guard and Milpro fuel bladders.
The boat is deceptively light and easy to carry with a well-constructed carry system, in fact the 30 hp engine and ancillary equipment represents a greater challenge to get into the field. From a flood rescue perspective this would be very attractive solution when operating in remote and rural locations and could easily be deployed by a light duty four wheel drive vehicle without need for a trailer and launching facilities.
The boat responds very well to additional crew positioning in the bow to maintain a neutral trim under power. Equally crew weight shift to left and right greatly enhance the edge ‘bite’ during manoeuvring in tight locations. The sponson fuel bladders positioned forward in the boat assist with the trimming of the boat.
We have driven the boat at Menai Suspension bridge during ebbing tides during Springs where there is a typical 10 knot stream, well defined eddy lines and confused, boiling eddies behind the stanchions. This represents flood stage urban rescue situations very well. The boat maintains station easily in the 10 knot flow with the Mariner 30 and ferries predictably with minimal tiller input from the helm. Close quarter ferrying and friction locking is enhanced by crew weight shift to provide ‘edge’ left and right. Users must be very aware that the boat by its construction is very light and care must be taken with trim when crossing strong eddy lines under power.
The inflated floor is comfortable for the patient given a flood rescue/evacuation situation. By contrast, hard aluminium slatted floors are a disadvantage for hypothermic and frail patients but may represent a better rescue platform if ladders are to be footed from boats as seen in Lancashire 2015. The boat is surprisingly dry from a patient perspective, the self-draining system is very effective."
Director (Operations)
R3 Safety & Rescue Ltd
Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service
"We have been using the inflatable rescue sleds for several years now and they have proved to be a key component of our current rescue capability. The Sleds fill the ‘gap’ that occur when the demands of a rescue exceed the capability of a wading team but the circumstances do not allow the use a of rescue boat. The sled offers a very stable and usable platform that is very light and easily manoeuvred into most situations.
In a rescue situation it is easy to get people out of the water and on to the sled, it can also be easily put to work as part of a line rescue system using the robust anchor points.
To summarise the sled has become a vital part of our water rescue capability, due to speed of deployment and flexibility in use it is often the first thing we call on to use".
Water Rescue Member
Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service
South Wales Fire & Rescue Service
The Bridgend Extrication Team of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service would like to thank MFC International for their support over the last 2 years. The technical equipment supplied has helped the team’s training for the various scenario situations that we face at each Extrication Challenge.
The MFC equipment is robust, practical and directly fit for Fire and Rescue Service operations. The team has continually placed the kit in various conditions and new areas of operations with the results proving very positive for both the equipment and the team’s objectives.